Big Biology

Watch how our amazing artist Keating Shahmehri created the cover art for our last episode "Feel the heat”. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

How do scientists measure thermal tolerance and predict organismal responses in the wild? What kind of other data is needed to make predictive models better at helping us understand species responses to high temperatures?In this special episode, roving podcaster Cameron Ghalambor went on the road to the University of Granada in Spain where he spoke about his own research in the symposium, Predictive Ecology in a Warming World. While there, Cam was inspired to get a few of the other experts into a room to talk about the broader field of predictive ecology, and this episode is the result. Guests on the episode include Jancitha Ellers, Professor at Vrije University of Amsterdam, Enrico Rezende, Associate Professor at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and Wilco Verberk, Associate Professor at Radboud University. Cam and colleagues discuss the methods and tools they use to measure heat tolerance in insects, fish, and other ectothermic animals and how collecting and sharing trait data is important to inform and implement predictive models.Cover art by Keating Shahmehri This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

Scott Edwards, the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Curator of Ornithology at Harvard, dives into the evolution of genomic research. He explores how new DNA sequencing technologies help reveal complex genomic structures, likening them to navigating a well-organized bookstore. The conversation shifts to cooperative breeding among babblers in varied habitats, highlighting the role of genomic advancements in understanding ecological traits. Edwards emphasizes the intricate connections between natural history and genomics, shaping our understanding of biodiversity.

In this post-match chat, Marty and Cam discuss our most recent episode “A direct hit”, with guest Holden Thorp. This is a quickly evolving situation, and on Friday last week, a federal judge continued to block the cut to the NIH indirect cost rate. And just a few days ago, Holden wrote another editorial Come together, right now. He writes about the continued onslaught of cuts, firings, and changes to the science system in the United States, and how members of the scientific community can respond. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

Will a change in policy at the National Institutes of Health derail science in the US? How does the “indirect cost rate” for federal research grants fuel research?In this episode, we talk with Holden Thorp, a chemist and editor-in-chief of Science, about his recent editorial A Direct Hit. In it, he writes about the NIH announcing a significant cut to their indirect cost rate and the consequences to science in the US if this change takes effect. “Indirect” or “overhead” costs are the portions of grants that are allocated to support research grant but aren’t for the research itself. Things like grant administration, compliance, and research infrastructure are covered by these funds (check out the comic below by Matteo Farinella for details). These costs have traditionally been shared by universities and the federal government, but with the proposed cut to the indirect cost rate, universities may need to make up for the deficit or change their operations. We discuss with Holden how this change could have widespread impacts on scientific research as well as the economy including our competitiveness on the global stage.Comic by Matteo Farinella (Instagram, Substack) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

Here’s a little sneak peek into what goes on behind the scenes when we choose a title for an episode. In this snippet, Cam and Marty discuss the title of our most recent episode: “Beaks on (fitness) peaks.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigbiology.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhich factors lead to the evolution of reproductive isolation? What role does hybridization play in speciation? Why are there so many bird species in the tropics?In this episode, we host Trevor Price, a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago and a Fellow of the Royal Society to talk about the evolutionary proce…

Sabrina Sholts, Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Smithsonian, discusses the fascinating link between human behavior and infectious disease transmission. She reveals how seasonal changes influence the spread of diseases, debunking myths around cold weather illnesses. Sholts shares insights from the 'Outbreak' exhibit, emphasizing the vital connections between human, animal, and environmental health. The conversation also touches on adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for public education and community engagement in combating future outbreaks.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comWhat role does development play in evolution? How can biology incorporate a broader, more complex definition of what it means to be an organism?In this episode, we talk with Scott Gilbert and Tobias Uller, two of the authors who wrote Evolution Evolving: The Developmental Origins of Adaptation and Biodiversity. Tobias is a professor of Biodiversity and …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.comHow have organisms changed the Earth and what can humans learn from its deep past?On this episode, we talk with Stephen Porder, a Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and the Associate Provost for Sustainability at Brown University. Stephen is also the author of Elemental: How Five Elements Changed Earth’s Past and Will Shape Our Futu…